NEW
ORLEANS - University of New Orleans interim athletic director Amy Champion
announced the hiring of Kim Young as the school's new head volleyball coach on Wednesday afternoon.
Young
comes to UNO after spending the last six years in a similar role at Grambling
where she compiled a 128-79 overall record and an impressive 45-2 mark in Southwestern
Athletic Conference (SWAC) play.
In five of
the last six years, Young's season has come to a conclusion in the league
tournament's championship game with all six campaigns highlighted by a SWAC
West Division championship.
"Kim
has a very successful track record as a coach and recruiter here in the state
of Louisiana," said Champion. "When she came in for her interview,
the energy and enthusiasm that she had for becoming our next volleyball coach
was recognized quickly by our staff."
"We
are excited to have Kim as part of our staff and feel that the experience she
provides, both as a head coach and a former student-athlete and will give her
the tools to build on the recent success of our volleyball program."
An
accomplished player during her time at Grambling, Young was a three-time SWAC
Player of the Year for head coach Fredrick Payne from 1996-1998, leading the
Tigers to league titles in 1996 and 1997.
Her success
as a collegiate player led to a stint at the next level with the United States
Professional Volleyball League. The East St. Louis, Illinois native had the
opportunity to play for the nearby St. Louis Quest while also participating in
professional competition in Japan and the Dominican Republic.
Young
returned to Grambling as an assistant coach in 2003 and earned her Masters'
degree in Sports Administration in 2004 before rising to the position of head
coach later that year.
"I've
had a vision of coaching outside the SWAC," said Young. "UNO has
available what I need to complete that vision from great facilities to a great
education."
"I
believe competing in Division III at UNO will afford me the opportunity to
compete for national championships. The school has the heritage, recent success
and location that will assist in getting quality student-athletes."
This year,
UNO will compete as a Division I Independent in all sports as part of a
multi-year transition to Division III status.
Young has
already began working to finalize a roster that currently includes returning
starters Cassidy Asebroek and Edina Dobi at setter and outside hitter,
respectively.
The 2009
Privateer volleyball team posted a 20-13 overall mark while winning the Sun
Belt Conference West Division title under then-head coach Jozsef Forman.
The new
head coach will make her UNO debut against a familiar foe from her days in the
SWAC as the Privateers open the 2010 campaign at Jackson State on Aug. 27.
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